Kosmos, the German publisher behind Catan and the EXIT escape room series, has announced Perfect Murder, a two-player asymmetric deduction game designed by Tobias Tesar. One player commits the crime; the other solves it.
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See how it worksThe setup is straightforward. One player takes the role of the murderer, plotting crimes across nine suspects, twelve weapons, and eight rooms, leaving false trails and red herrings along the way. The other player is the detective, piecing together evidence to bring the killer to justice. Each game generates a fresh case, so no two sessions play out the same way. Tesar, a Munich-based designer and 2022 Spiel des Jahres scholarship recipient, has built the game around bluffing and logical deduction rather than dice or card draws.
Two-player head-to-head deduction games occupy a sweet spot in the hobby. Games like Letters from Whitechapel and Whitehall Mystery offer deep asymmetric cat-and-mouse experiences, but they run 90 minutes or longer and pack heavier rulesets. Perfect Murder aims to deliver that tension in a faster, leaner package.
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Find events near youKosmos has been on a strong run with accessible, thoughtful games. Their EXIT series has sold millions of copies worldwide, and the publisher keeps finding new ways to bring sharp game design to a wide audience. Perfect Murder suggests they are branching into competitive, narrative-driven territory alongside their cooperative catalogue.
No firm UK release date or pricing has landed beyond "Spring 2026," so keep an eye on your local game shop's pre-order list. If you have a regular gaming partner and enjoy the thrill of outthinking someone across the table, this one belongs on your radar.
Sources: Wargamer | TechRaptor | BGG
